The rural human services programs are designed to develop strong and healthy rural Alaska Native individuals, families and communities. They provide entry-level training for students preparing for careers as natural helpers/healers in village-based public, private and volunteer human service organizations. The curriculum draws extensively on resource people from the Native community and reflects a strong multicultural orientation that validates, incorporates and builds on Native values and principles.

The certificate program is a concentrated course of study focused on rural behavioral health services. Both the Alaska Division of Behavioral Health and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium are currently developing and defining competencies and credentials for Alaska behavioral health care workers.

The certificate program provides additional credentials for service providers who work in related fields and would like additional training in rural behavioral health services. Providers who may want such training could include health aides, family service workers, correctional workers and teachers. Courses are presented as a series of four intensive three-week training sessions at selected delivery sites. A practicum and electives round out the program.

Admission is open to anyone employed by a regional Native health corporation or local entity providing village-based human services, or to individuals recognized by their communities as natural helpers/healers. A high school diploma or GED and/or previous training or work experience in the delivery of village-based human services are recommended but not required.

This degree program is delivered collaboratively within the UA system.

Complete the certificate requirements. (As part of the certificate requirements, complete RHS F110 and F115 for the human relations requirement. The communication and computation courses must be completed from the certificate requirements.)